The HIO cross-cultural competency training is designed to equip employers, HR Professionals, and people managers with practical skills, strategies and tools needed to increase cultural competencies and prepare workplaces for a culturally diverse employee base.
Why Cross-Cultural Competency?
There are seven modules in this suite of professional development training sessions. These stand-alone sessions give you the flexibility of choosing the topics of interest to you or most relevant to your workplace. Each session is delivered in a small group setting, by a professional facilitator with expertise in cultural competency.
You will receive a Cross-Cultural Competency Certificate of Training after completing four sessions.
These interactive virtual workshops are delivered via the Zoom platform. Sessions are free, but space is limited. You must register in advance.
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Cross-Cultural Management Strategies for Employers
In this workshop, we’ll focus on supporting participants to improve cross-cultural strategies in their day-to-day management to create a space where newcomer employees feel welcomed and valued. We’ll practice tools for valuing diverse viewpoints including the rich perspectives newcomers bring to the workplace. We’ll also analyze techniques to improve communication, collaboration, and decision-making to help participants better manage across cultures and create a more harmonious workplace environment.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Better integrate cross-cultural strategies for newcomer support.
- Apply tools and techniques to enhance communication and decision-making.
- Value diverse perspectives to improve teamwork and collaboration.
When: January 29, 2026 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)
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Advancing Workplace Well-being for Newcomer Employees
In this workshop, we’ll learn how to champion workplace well-being for newcomer employees. We’ll consider ways to improve well-being for newcomer employees by understanding cultural factors that affect their workplace experience. We’ll look at practical steps to tailor well-being initiatives, to ensure a more supportive and inclusive environment. Lastly, we’ll craft a roadmap that outlines well-being strategies for an inclusive workplace culture that reduces absenteeism, improves retention and tracks overall newcomer well-being.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Integrate cultural factors into well-being practices for newcomers.
- Develop and tailor specific well-being strategies that address the unique needs of newcomers that minimizes absenteeism and improves retention.
- Craft a roadmap with strategies for an inclusive workplace that tracks and supports newcomer well-being.
When: February 12, 2026 (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
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Dimensions of Inclusiveness
In this session we will explore and learn to create four key inclusiveness dimensions of multicultural workplaces: Entering your work culture: Workplace Orientation topics for internationally educated professionals (IEPs); Clarifying unwritten rules; Mentoring made Easy; and Inclusiveness strategy: How to create a learning session for current staff to learn more about their IEP counterparts.
In this session participants will learn:
1) How to turn inclusiveness dimensions into action items in your workplace
2) How to determine which elements of inclusiveness your workplace can implement
When: February 24, 2026 (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
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Creating the Workplace that Accommodates Effectively
In this interactive session, we will explore keys to successful accommodation strategies, focusing on the relationship between cultural integration and accommodation; accommodating different cultural norms and reasonable practices in accommodation; systemic inclusion and accommodation; conversation with a new Canadian regarding their perspective on accommodation; and using a problem-solving paradigm to analyze case studies.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
1) Creative strategies that can move your diversity & inclusion policies and efforts forward
2) To integrate different cultural norms and reasonable practices when accommodating internationally educated professionals
March 11, 2026 (10:00am – 12:00pm)
Registration not opened.